SCARE YOUR SOUL

Simon advocates taking daily risks in this debut motivational work.

The author, an entrepreneur, is a fear-chaser; he believes that the secret to happiness is not to be found through self-care or comfort but rather by challenging one’s own fears. “It is the intentional choice we make to walk into the fire of fear with the hope of growing from its discomfort…that fosters a flourishing life,” Simon writes in his introduction (he’s describing his decision, at age 35, to confront a lifelong fear of singing in public by signing up for a busy brunch open mic). The book—which shares its name with the “movement” Simon created—is intended to challenge readers to confront their own deep-seated fears. The idea is inspired by a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt that the author calls the “eight words that changed [his] life”: “Do one thing every day that scares you.” He has expanded the notion into a full-fledged life philosophy, distilling the concept into seven principles to help would-be fear-chasers break out of their normal routines. Simon describes himself as a “happiness entrepreneur,” and his prose is cheerfully imperative. He offers bullet points advising the reader on how to have an adventurous day without even leaving home: “Begin the day by waking up early. Drink in the quietness”; “Vary as many of your most basic routines as you can (brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand, take a completely different route to work)”; “Put on an outfit or a hat that shows your true personality, even if you think it’s completely crazy.” The book follows a familiar self-help recipe—one part personal memoir, one part inspiring anecdotes, and one part exercises for readers to try out on their own. While little here is entirely original, the author’s fear-forward take on mindfulness should appeal to those meditation-allergic readers looking to become more exciting versions of themselves.

A sharply packaged self-help book with an emphasis on facing your fears.